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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Draymond Green sees Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant as good cultural match in Houston
Draymond Green on the pairing of Kevin Durant and Fred VanVleet with the Rockets: 'Certain things that KD doesn't like to do, Fred will do that. In team sports, that's how it's supposed to work.' Warriors veteran Draymond Green has plenty of experience playing alongside Kevin Durant in Golden State, and he's also faced off against Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet in multiple high-leverage, competitive series in the NBA playoffs. With that knowledge, Green envisions the veteran pairing of Durant and VanVleet working well in Houston. From his latest podcast (The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis): Shoutout to Freddy V, he got a new two-year deal to stay with the Rockets. Well deserved, the way I saw him lead that team in the playoffs. They're going to need his leadership. I think with Fred's demeanor and how Fred goes about things, and with KD and how KD goes about things… I think it'll be a good match. Some of the stuff that (Kevin) doesn't want to do, people try to make it an indictment on his character. No. We're all human beings, and we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. Certain things that KD doesn't like to do, Fred will do that. On a basketball team in team sports, that's how it's supposed to work. So, I think this puts them in a really good position. They're obviously going to be a team to be reckoned with. That team is in a really good position, and I definitely think it (the Durant trade) is an upgrade. Green and the Warriors got the best of the Rockets in the first round of the recently completed 2025 playoffs. But the series went a full seven games, even with (now departed) Jalen Green struggling, and VanVleet was likely Houston's best player. Now, with Durant playing alongside VanVleet in that top-scorer role, the Rockets would seem to be more formidable for any potential rematch. As for the leadership and cultural angles, Green's comments largely mesh with the sentiments of ESPN's Tim MacMahon. On Thursday's First Take, MacMahon said the Rockets simply need Durant to focus on what he does best. That's being an elite scorer and producing at an All-Star level, which he continued to do last season at 36 years old. 'This is not a team that has a leadership void,' MacMahon said in a discussion regarding whether Durant needs to be more of a vocal leader with the Rockets. 'This is a team that has a phenomenal culture. They're tough, they're nasty. They need freaking buckets, and Kevin Durant can supply those in bunches.' In short, the Rockets were 52-30 and No. 2 in the Western Conference in large part because of their leadership and culture. What they needed was simply more shot making to revive a halfcourt offense that largely struggled throughout the 2024-25 season. That's what VanVleet and head coach Ime Udoka want Durant's help with during the 2025-26 campaign, which begins in October. More: ESPN's Tim MacMahon: Buckets, not leadership, is what Houston needs most from Kevin Durant
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mo Williams on LeBron James' 2014 return to Cleveland Cavaliers: 'His game just matured, everything got better'
Image credit: Getty Images LeBron James is all set to make a record by playing the most number of seasons in the NBA when he returns to the court next season. The Los Angeles Lakers star has improved his game almost every season and showed a stark difference in his performance when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers before and after a four-year break, during which he joined the Miami Heat. His former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Mo Williams has revealed how he was much more mature and every bit a better basketball player when he returned to the team after his time with the Miami Heat. Mo Williams on how LeBron James was a better player when he returned to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 LeBron James started his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 when he was the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. He spent seven years with the team before leaving to join the Miami Heat. After four years with the Heat, he returned to the Cavaliers and spent four more years with the team. Talking about LeBron James' two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers during his appearance on The Draymond Green Show, Mo Williams said James showed maturity in all the little things when he returned to the team after spending four years with the Miami Heat. He said, 'The first time I was there, he did all the things he was doing when he got back, but he was doing it better and more precisely [the second time]. He had it dialled in. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo When they talk about him taking care of his body, he was doing that the first time, but when I got with him the second time, it was like clockwork. 'You know what time he's going to get to the game. You know he's going to be at shootaround when we get there. You know he's going to be at the gym before the first bus gets there. You know when he's getting a massage. I still remember that routine because I saw it so much every single day. That was the difference I saw. And obviously, that translated to the court, just off him playing games and getting older, and just being one of the greatest players,' he added. Counting all the areas in which James showed improvement, Williams said, 'His game just matured, and everything got better. He shot the ball a whole lot better. I think that's one of the biggest things that… that part of his game obviously kept growing. The decision-making was sharper, understanding the spots where you can get a bucket when he wanted to. I think he's always had a great feel for the game.' Also Read: LeBron James on playing alongside son Bronny James: 'This whole year has been one of the most satisfying journeys' James is currently spending all his time with his family in the offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers ended their run in the NBA championship several weeks before the finals when they lost in the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA star Draymond Green makes bold claim about Oklahoma City Thunder's Alex Caruso over NBA Finals
NBA star Draymond Green makes bold claim about Oklahoma City Thunder's Alex Caruso over NBA Finals NBA star Draymond Green believes Oklahoma City Thunder's guard Alex Caruso is the team's third most important player, as he's not only experienced, but he's also smart and his defence is pretty good, especially in the NBA Finals, with his power packed performance. Even though Caruso hasn't been able to score top points, he's well aware of how to ensure a win for the team. Draymond Green believes Alex Caruso is Oklahoma City Thunder's solid defense In the latest episode of podcast The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, Draymond Green explained the two teams — Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers' solid strategy, that led the former's win against the latter in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. He said: "When I look at this OKC team, I actually think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso. I think Caruso is so important to what they do and I feel like you never game plan for him, So because you don't have a game plan for him, he comes into these Finals and he goes crazy. But the reality is, he's a champion, so he actually knows what to expect." Draymond Green reacts to Pacers-Thunder Game 2: SGA outshines Haliburton to even NBA Finals at 1-1 He explains, "If I'm an opposing coach, I'm saying 'Caruso's been in this moment, he's shown us over and over again he can deliver in this moment, I'm going to make him so important to our game plan, I'm going to make less of an importance in our game plan to the guy who hasn't done it.' He added, "Place that bet on the guy that hasn't done it, and Chet hasn't done it. I know Caruso can beat me, he's shown he can beat me at several different points. Back then when he won a championship he showed you he can beat you. So I'm just not sure that would be the bet that I would be making." Green said, in the podcast, "He's so important to everything they do, Defensively, he's so important to everything they do. Offensively, he can be another guy that can handle the ball, that's smart, that makes decisions, that's going to shoot the right shots, not take the wrong shots." Also Read: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green Weighs In On Controversial Cooper Flagg Narrative With Dallas Mavericks NBA star and Golden State Warriors' brilliant face Draymond Green believes Alex Caruso knows the game, and the fact that he's able to showcase his skillset, in ensuring the team has a strategic advantage over everybody else, proves he's at his best.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'LeBron did it in Cleveland': Draymond Green and Shaquille O'Neal torch big-market myth after Tyrese Haliburton's clutch Game 1 stirs debate — Stephen A. Smith pushes back
Images via Getty Images Does a superstar really need the spotlight of New York or Los Angeles to become the face of the NBA? That question has sparked a wave of debate across the league. When and where a player rises used to matter — but today, names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Tyrese Haliburton are flipping the narrative. And some of the league's most vocal minds — Shaquille O'Neal and Draymond Green — are drawing a firm line: true greatness doesn't wait for a big market invite. It builds its own stage. Draymond Green and Shaquille O'Neal say greatness defines a true NBA superstar, not market size The long-standing belief that superstars must thrive in major media markets to reach iconic status is being challenged by some of the league's most experienced voices. Shaquille O'Neal lit the fuse during an appearance on the 'Good Word with Goodwill' podcast. 'You go to L.A., that's 50% of your contract goes to taxes,' Shaq said. 'More pressure, more articles, and more stress… Social media is the market now.' The Lakers legend, who made the move from Orlando to Los Angeles in 1996, isn't speaking from theory — he lived the contrast. But his message is that the NBA's power map has shifted, thanks to social media and changing media dynamics. 'When I was coming up, it was a small market. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mengapa tiket pesawat ke Singapura lebih murah dari penerbangan domestik? ini jawaban Menhub CNA Indonesia Baca Undo You're too small. You probably need to go to a big market. But now every market is the same,' he added. Golden State's Draymond Green echoed those thoughts on 'The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis' and Shaun Livingston. Green took the conversation further, pointing directly to today's most dominant stars. 'I know for sure [market size] doesn't matter because LeBron James became the face of the NBA in Cleveland, Ohio,' Green said. 'And that's not a big market by any stretch of the imagination. I think you have to be that great.' Tyrese Haliburton game-winner REACTION: Pacers-Thunder Game 1 w/ Shaun Livingston | Draymond & Baron Green, never shy to stir the pot, emphasized that the scrutiny and pressure people associate with major cities doesn't magically disappear in smaller markets. 'The same pressure those guys get when they're playing in those cities, LeBron James got that pressure in Cleveland,' he explained. 'If he didn't win, there's noise. 'He can't do it no more.'' He didn't stop there. Green listed off Giannis Antetokounmpo , Nikola Jokic , and Luka Doncic as proof points. 'Giannis has become Giannis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [Nikola Jokic] has become Joker in Denver, Colorado. Luka didn't become this Luka when he went to L.A. Luka became that in Dallas.' Each, in his view, is a product of performance, not zip code. Meanwhile, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith offered a more cautious stance. Speaking on First Take, Smith said, 'Market size matters to certain stars, no question about it — not every star.' He suggested that only truly transcendent players, like Shaq, can bypass the traditional big-market boost. But even Stephen A. acknowledged that pressure often comes more from expectations tied to legacy than from locale. And that brings us to a new name on the rise — Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton, playing in Indiana, has delivered one of the most clutch playoff runs in recent memory. As of June 5, he's hit game-tying or go-ahead shots in four separate rounds — something neither Michael Jordan nor LeBron James accomplished as quickly. In 89 clutch minutes this postseason, Haliburton has racked up a jaw-dropping 8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and pushed Indiana to an 88.9% win rate in tight games. His performances haven't gone unnoticed. Not even by Shaq, who, after Haliburton's game-winner against Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, was momentarily speechless. Also Read: LeBron James raves about Tyrese Haliburton ahead of Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Finals for first-ever NBA title From Cleveland to Milwaukee, from Denver to Dallas, and now in Indiana, today's superstars are proving that market size might just be an outdated measuring stick. Draymond Green and Shaquille O'Neal are making it clear: if you're great enough, the world will watch no matter where you play. In the age of highlights, hashtags, and real-time takes, the market isn't a place — it's a presence. And Tyrese Haliburton, right now, is becoming that presence.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green's honest take on owner Joe Lacob's Durant comments and Luka Doncic's unexpected trade news
(Image Source - Getty Images) Draymond Green had quite the night at the Warriors' charity tournament. There were whispers about Kevin Durant making a comeback, which got everyone excited, but then a trade announcement hit that surprised everyone. Luka Doncic's major move changed the game and highlighted how unpredictable NBA trades really are. Golden State Warriors ' reaction to Luka Doncic's trade During the Golden State Warriors' yearly charity poker tournament on February 1, 2025, at the Chase Center, Draymond Green went through a rollercoaster of feelings. At first, Warriors owner Joe Lacob dropped a hint about a possible reunion with Kevin Durant, saying, 'Draymond, I think we're gonna get Kevin Durant; it's right there at the finish line; it's happening.' This sparked excitement in Green, who had previously played alongside Durant during the Warriors' championship runs. Draymond Green on Mavs Trading Luka to the Lakers, His Mom Talking Trash & Guarding Wembanyama However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Stephen Curry, amidst the tournament, exclaimed, 'Did you see the trade?!' Green, still trying to wrap his head around the Durant news, was shocked to find out that Luka Doncic had been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. This news left Green momentarily at a loss for words, as he had been expecting a completely different outcome. People were very excited when Doncic's trade was announced and this certainly impacted the Warriors. The footage from the charity event showed both Green and Curry being really surprised by what happened. Green was heard saying, "What?!" over and over as he tried to wrap his head around the surprising turn of events. Curry looked just as stunned, his mouth hanging open and his phone call cut short by his shock. The vibe in the room changed from fun to a shared feeling of astonishment, as everyone dealt with the weight of the trade. In the aftermath of the trade, Green took to his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show," to share his thoughts. He expressed his belief that the trade would have a significant impact on the NBA landscape, stating, 'That's one of the biggest impacts.' Green pointed out the league's unpredictability, mentioning that huge trades can alter team dynamics and strategies significantly. He also recognized the emotional strain on players involved in these high-profile trades, acknowledging the hurdles they must overcome to adapt to new surroundings and expectations. Also Read: Savannah James' honest confession: The one thing LeBron James has never done for her It made Draymond Green realize that the league keeps changing and truths and rumors often meet. Whenever teams change their strategies and add or subtract players, Green has to be prepared to deal with anything the next challenge brings. When Luka Doncic joined the Los Angeles Lakers, he not only changed his own career but also created fresh tales and competing teams in the NBA.
